I always wondered what would happen if I had to rush to the hospital to see a loved one before he or she passes only to be followed by a cop. Would I stop and explain the situation? Would I continue to drive to the hospital and then talk? How would the officer react? Would the police think that I’m lying?
In the story below, an NFL player rushed his family to the hospital to be with his mother-in-law before she passes. He ran a red light and didn’t pull over until he got to the hospital, and he stayed behind to talk to the officer as his family rushed in. Nurses came out to try to persuade the officer to let the man inside, but the officer didn’t budge, and he missed his mother-in-law’s passing.
Read the story here – it even includes the dash-cam video where you can hear both men talk.
I wonder if this would even be news if this guy wasn’t a “celebrity.”
On a side note, I remember rushing to the hospital to be with my mother before she passed. This one guy in a tan Chevy just wouldn’t let me over or pass him. He had no idea I’m sure of why I was trying to get by him, but that moment still sticks in my mind, and it has made me a bit more of a sensitive driver because I have no idea what’s going on in someone’s head as they drive – I just give them the benefit of the doubt.
Forgive him Father for he knows not what he has done.
That close to the hospital, no I wouldn't have stopped… if I was further out I would have stopped and explained (the police may even provide an escort), but what a jerk… as soon as he heard that a relative was dying, that should have been enough… is his actions worthy of firing… I don't think so, but he should at least be subjected to a little "sensitivity" training and cruise behind the desk for a while… an evaluation of his personality may also need to be in order if he is to continue to interface with the public
I greatly appreciate our police officers. No doubt, they have a challenging job. But, this was inexcusable. Clearly, the officer placed his authority higher than a life /death situation. If he does not possess the innate skills to differentiate between minor traffic violation and major life emergency event as obvious as this one, he is probably making other misjudgments as well.
Ryan Moats did a good job of controlling his anger. Not sure I could have done so well.
I can't believe that to this day, this officer has no inclination to admitting he did anything wrong! Ryan did a great job of controlling his temper.
That officer was completely wrong in every way. i will however say it is completely luck of the draw what type of officer you get when you get pulled over. I myself had the complete opposite happen to me with a Dallas Police officer when my best friend and I were out one night yrs ago having drinks with friends. He got a phone call from his mother telling him his dad was having a heart attack and being rushed to the hospital. I didnt even think about it when I offered to rush him to the hospital and while speeding down central expressway got pulled over. We explained the situation and while he did ask me out of the car and take my BAC with a breathalyzer he saw that I was over the legal limit. However, he noticed the sincerity and urgency of the our situation he told us to get in his squad car and personally escorted us to the hospital. He told me on the way to the hospital to not go back and get my car and have somebody who has not been drinking come and pick me up at the hospital. This officer could have justifiable thrown me in jail for DUI and stranded my friend en route to his dad's side as he was having a heart attack but instead exercised common sense, compassion and leniency for the situation at hand. Not all cops are bad but there are a lot of those we see in this situation unfortunately. It all depends on the person.